Heavy metal analysis of wild edible mushrooms grown in Türkiye and assessment of possible carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk

Abstract

In this study, heavy metals (HM) composition of in seventy-three wild edible mushroom (WEM) species collected from unpolluted areas in fourteen provinces of Türkiye was determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Cd, Hg, Pb and As analyzed in WEM species varied from 1.1 to 76.3, 13.8–822.7, 9.5–8867.0, < 3.0–31.8, 5.1–44.4, 3.8–380.2, 17.9–912.0, < 0.5–19.5, < 0.8–4.9, < 0.9–15.6, < 0.8–31.9 and < 0.5–257.4 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were higher than the limits recommended by the Turkish Food Codex for cultivated mushrooms. The potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks caused by the ingestion of WEM species containing HMs were assessed by estimating the hazard and total cancer risk index. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment reveals no risk for consumption of the studied WEM species for adult consumers, except for two WEM species. On the other hand, 26 % of the values of the total cancer risk index assessed for Cr, As, Pb, and Ni in WEM species exceed the acceptable limit (≥ 10−4).